Markey to take place of Kerry

Wednesday

Jun 26, 2013 at 12:01 AMJun 26, 2013 at 1:00 PM

BOSTON (AP) — Drawing on the political might of the White House, Democrats have exorcized the ghost of Scott Brown.

Three years after the little-known Republican state senator shocked the political world with an unlikely victory here, veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Markey won the special election yesterday for U.S. Senate to replace John Kerry, defeating a Republican political newcomer with an all-star resume who failed to inspire Massachusetts voters and Washington's GOP leaders alike.

It was a resounding victory in a low-turnout election for a national Democratic Party still haunted by Brown's 2010 special election stunner.

"To everyone in the state, regardless of how you voted, I say to you tonight this is your seat in the United States Senate," Markey, 66, declared in his victory speech, echoing one of Brown's most common lines.

The contest served as a reminder that President Barack Obama has vowed to play a more aggressive political role for his party through next year's midterm elections, with huge stakes for his legacy and final-term agenda. Democrats face several competitive Senate contests in less-friendly terrain in 2014, when their grip on the Senate majority will be tested.

The White House, led by Obama himself, invested heavily in the Massachusetts election, fueled largely by widespread fear of another Brown-like surprise.

"The people of Massachusetts can be proud that they have another strong leader fighting for them in the Senate, and people across the country will benefit from Ed's talent and integrity," Obama said in a statement last night.